Tree squirrel

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Tree squirrels
Fossil range: Middle Miocene - Recent
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Sciuromorpha
Family: Sciuridae
Subfamily: Sciurinae
Tribe: Sciurini
Genera

Microsciurus
Rheithrosciurus
Sciurus
Syntheosciurus
Tamiasciurus

Although the term tree squirrel can refer to any arboreal member of the family Sciuridae, it is generally in reference to the common and widely distributed members of the genus Sciurus and close kin, the tribe Sciurini. These genera contain most of the common, bushy-tailed squirrels in North America, Europe, temperate Asia, and South America. The tree squirrels are close relatives of the flying squirrels.

They generally spend little time on the ground, preferring the heights of the forest canopy.

[edit] Species

[edit] References

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  • Andrew Duff and Ann Lawson (2004). Mammals of the World: A checklist. A & C Black. ISBN 071366021X. 
  • Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9